Emmanuel Macron finally decided to go to Israel, more than two weeks after the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas, and while the deadly bombings carried out in retaliation against the Gaza Strip continue. The Head of State’s plane landed on Tuesday morning, October 24, in Tel Aviv.
Emmanuel Macron is due to meet the Prime Minister of the Hebrew State, Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Minister without Portfolio Benny Gantz, as well as Yaïr Lapid, the leader of the opposition. He is also expected to meet with the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah. He could finally go on Wednesday to another state in the region, depending on the consultations initiated with Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf countries.
The Elysée proclaimed it loud and clear on the eve of the trip: the primary objective of the President of the Republic is to express the “solidarity” of France with Israel, after the attacks committed by Hamas on October 7, which left at least 1,400 dead. Emmanuel Macron should at the same time call for a “humanitarian pause”, likely, in the minds of those around him, to ultimately lead to a ceasefire, as demanded by the Arab capitals. In the meantime, French officials hope to facilitate negotiations on the release of hostages held by Hamas – seven French people are still missing – and help curb the risks of regional escalation.
Emmanuel Macron’s visit comes after those of the American President, Joe Biden, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and the President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni, who have already come to express their “solidarity” towards Israel. The day before his arrival, the head of the Dutch government, Mark Rutte, passed through Tel Aviv, as well as Ramallah.
Unlike his Western counterparts, the Head of State initially delayed, indicating that he wanted his trip to be ” useful “, as Israel intensifies its strikes on the Gaza Strip. Officially intended for ” destroy “ Hamas, these raids left nearly 5,100 dead, according to the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian enclave, governed by Hamas. “Emmanuel Macron should have gone there much earlierobserves Yves Aubin de La Messuzière, former ambassador and former director of North Africa-Middle East at the Quai d’Orsay. It is a shame that France’s voice was extinguished on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict under the Hollande then Macron presidencies. »
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